Tell Me about horseboxes 3.5t vs 7.5t

[fornema]

I am looking into replacing the current trailer & 4x4 with a horse box, i passed after 1997, 2010 to be exact and therefore would have to do a test for over 3.5t, how much would i be looking at approx for this. Any other bits and bobs that i should know? What boxes are best apart from the obvious on a budget, second hand and new etc? Would be to carry for the moment a 17hh & a 13.2hh.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Ella19]

If you intend to carry both together then you will need at least a 7.5t box. You will be way over the legal and safe Wright limit for a 3.5t. For an intensive course and test you will be looking at around 1.5-2k.

 

[Spottyappy]

Budget- as much as you can afford.
3.5t boxes are very unlikely to legally take both of the horses. For a nice 3.5t you need 15-20k IMHO, for a coachbuilt on a newer chassis.
The cost of running a 3.5 is, however, usually, much reduced compared with a 7.5t. Tax and insurance are similar but the maintenance when things wear out or go wrong on a bigger box is double and some compared with a 3.5t.
For instance, I had to replace my gearbox and clutch on my 7.5t box this year and it was in excess of 2k for a reconditioned gearbox! On the 3.5t, though it was going back about 5 years, it was about half of that.
The big thing, for me running costs aside was the 7.5t box felt much safer and I think gave a nicer ride to the horses.
For any box, I buy coach built rather than a conversion, my preference. But, that also adds to the purchase price against buying a conversion.

 

[fornema]

If you intend to carry both together then you will need at least a 7.5t box. You will be way over the legal and safe Wright limit for a 3.5t. For an intensive course and test you will be looking at around 1.5-2k.

Not in any rush as still have the car and box so would the price be the same if doing over a longer period of time as also dont have time for intensive.
Unlikely to carry both together as will competing at different levels but I know it would be very close in terms of payload as the horses by themselves would way 950 and unless i can find something with 1250 payload it would be very close, also erring towards something above 3.5t due to cost and spaciousness for the larger one as will be difficult to find something to fit her in which has a low payload.

Budget- as much as you can afford.
3.5t boxes are very unlikely to legally take both of the horses. For a nice 3.5t you need 15-20k IMHO, for a coachbuilt on a newer chassis.
The cost of running a 3.5 is, however, usually, much reduced compared with a 7.5t. Tax and insurance are similar but the maintenance when things wear out or go wrong on a bigger box is double and some compared with a 3.5t.
For instance, I had to replace my gearbox and clutch on my 7.5t box this year and it was in excess of 2k for a reconditioned gearbox! On the 3.5t, though it was going back about 5 years, it was about half of that.
The big thing, for me running costs aside was the 7.5t box felt much safer and I think gave a nicer ride to the horses.
For any box, I buy coach built rather than a conversion, my preference. But, that also adds to the purchase price against buying a conversion.

As above very aware id be very close in terms of payload. I would probably be looking for something that is a little over 3.5 but not quite as big as a full 7.5 as will always only be for 2. Thank you for all of that, i hadn't really thought of all the other bits. However the car we have we currently have probably is costing the same amount in maintenance as a box.

 

[ROG]

Check out the HHO LGV CLINIC - link below in signature

 

[Sparkeyboy]

Have a look at some 4.5 / 5 / 6t horse boxes. They only carry 2 horses but obviously have the larger payload so you can take 2 larger horses.

 

[suestowford]

I had a 7.5 ton box which was no more than 22 ft long so not a huge lorry. Payload on it was over 3 tons so there were never any worries about being overloaded.
But, it was very expensive to get through its MOT each year.

 

[OWLIE185]

The 3.5 ton ones are no more than ice cream vans and I would not like to have a horse in one if it was involved in an accident however small.
Get yourself a nice 7.5 ton as you can get some lovely little compact ones. Mine was 18 feet long (front of cab to rear of container) and also had a 3 ton payload.
Make sure you get one with a fully tiltable cab and with 2 spare wheels.
Best chassis cabs are Daf, Man or Iveco but if you want to use it in London make sure you get a Euro 6/7 one which will be compliant with the emissions zone.
Also get yourself breakdown insurance with a reputable company.

 

[oldie48]

Well you are entitled to your opinion but there are some beautifully built 3.5s that aren't remotely like ice cream vans, however, they won't carry a 17hh and a 13.2 as most have a pay load of 1.00 - 1.2K including diesel, passengers and all tack etc + horse. You can, off course, get some boxes that are between 3.5 and 7.5, a friend has one which I believe is 6 ton and would carry your horse and pony. Personally, in common with many other owners, I absolutely love my 3.5, it is well built and my 16.2 travels well in it. Having had several 7.5s in the past, the 3.5s running costs are a lot lower than any of the 7.5s I've had and it is very easy to drive and park, but sadly not a possibility for you.QUOTE=OWLIE185;12993487]The 3.5 ton ones are no more than ice cream vans and I would not like to have a horse in one if it was involved in an accident however small.
Get yourself a nice 7.5 ton as you can get some lovely little compact ones. Mine was 18 feet long (front of cab to rear of container) and also had a 3 ton payload.
Make sure you get one with a fully tiltable cab and with 2 spare wheels.
Best chassis cabs are Daf, Man or Iveco but if you want to use it in London make sure you get a Euro 6/7 one which will be compliant with the emissions zone.
Also get yourself breakdown insurance with a reputable company.[/QUOTE]

 

[Fiona]

We've a six ton box which carries two easily and is v short and easy to drive. Coachbuilt onto an iveco van chassis.

Fiona

 

[Goldenstar]

If you intend to carry both together then you will need at least a 7.5t box. You will be way over the legal and safe Wright limit for a 3.5t. For an intensive course and test you will be looking at around 1.5-2k.

Not so you can get a 6.5 with a two ton capacity mines 1.8 because it has a slide out but the non slide out version of mine gives you two tons .
Mines a iveco lovely to drive as well.

 

[DuckToller]

If it helps to have a few more facts, my slightly shorter than average 7.5t Iveco weighed in at the local weigh bridge at 5.8t unladen, with a full tank of diesel. (When we had it built we requested they cut 2' off the chassis - 1' off the living and 1' off the horse area.)

So my payload is 1.7t - I have two 16.1 horses that have been weighed on a horse weigh bridge at 540 and 560, so that leaves me .6 to play with - enough for groom, jockey, tack, feed and various dogs

 

[Tiddlypom]

Having asserted that I would never use a 3.5t (as being too flimsy), I recently had a young horse transported in one that I was very happy with. It's a customised long stall (ie no breast bar to jump over) rear facing Marlborough Hunter. There was maximum horse space and a small tack area at the back, plus three belted travel seats in the cab. The vehicle operator had viewed a number of different makes, with safety and strength being top of their list, and settled on this one. It comfortably carries 17.2hhs.

If I was to ever buy one, I would get it uprated to 3.9t (an extra £485) which would increase the payload to 1600kg, which would do me fine. I have an old f@rts licence so wouldn't need to take a further test !

I was very impressed with the ride and the build quality, having gone in with a very suspicious mind.

 

[dotty1]

I have got a coachbuilt Movano 3.5T. It has a 1.2 payload and is massive inside with loads of storage. I only travel one 15.2 so weight isn't an issue for me. It goes for miles on £20 of diesel and costs just over £200 to insure with breakdown insurance. If I needed more weight capacity it could be uprated to 3.9 t. It is powerful and I don't notice one heavy 15.2 in it so it wouldnt be sluggish or struggle with more weight in it.
It's nothing like an ice cream van, it's a very solid we'll build little lorry